Fixture for supporting and traversing drapes and the like



Oct. 31, 1950 w C TROY 2,527,860

FIXTURE FOR SUPOTING AND TRAVERSING DRAPES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 17,1947 INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented Oct. 31, 1950 'UNIT-ED; STATESPa'rlezlarff OFFICE FIXTURE FOR SUPPORTING AND TRAVERS- ING DRAPES ANDTHE LIKE Walter C. Troy, Pittsburgh, Pa. l

' Application January 17, 1947,'Serial No. 722,553 "4 3 Claims. (Cl.16H- 343) This invention relates to fixtures suitable for supportingdrapes, curtains and the like and for traversing them uniformly to Vopenand closed positions. Y

It isdesirable to support movable drapes, curtains and the like in sucha manner that they are folded into similar neat folds in both open andclosed position, or in any intermediate partly open position.Furthermore, the mechanism for traversing the drapes should be simple inconstruction, easy to operate and reliable. It is well'known that manydrapery fixtures do not meet these requirements, since they often catchor bunch, requiring considerable tugging to free the drapes or, onoccasion, the operator must mount a ladder to untangle jammed parts. Theprime object of this invention is to provide a drapery xture capable ofsatisfactorily meeting these requirements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fixture forsupportingand traversing drapes, curtains and the like uniformly bymeans of va single operating element. 2 y A A further object of theinvention is to provide a ixture for traversing drapes, curtains and thelike easily without binding or bunching of the drapes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide supportingbrackets for supporting La tubular xture with an overhang at any desiredlocation. Y

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in partappear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description anddrawing,inwhich:

Figure l is a broken view in elevation partly in section,

g Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of the operatingelements of the Xture, Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of theslider elements of the xture,

rFig. 4 is an enlargedv sectional View taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1showing the supporting bracket, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation form of supporting bracket. Y f Referring toFig. l of the drawing, there is `vview of a modified illustrated thefixture I0 arranged for supportf ing and traversing two drapes I2 and i3to open section. It has been found that the square tube shapeshown inthe drawing is particularly suitable. The tube I4 is -provided with alongitudinal slot I6 in the iront vertical face extending fromsubstantially one end of the tube to the other. Disposed Within the tubeI4 are a plurality of slider members I8 fitting closely, but freely forrelatively easy longitudinal movement. A right-hand group of slidermembers supports the right drape I2 and the left drape I3 is supportedon a corresponding left-hand group of slider members. The number ofslider members I8 is determined by the number of points of supportdeemed desirable for each of the drapesV I2 and` I3.. Furthermore,`ifthe drapes in open or gathered .position are to have a large numberoffolds,n then a proportionately large number of sliderV members will beemand closed position. The fixture I0 comprises I ployed.- `Ifthedrapesvv are to fold with a few relativelyflarge folds, then a smallervnumber of slider members may. be employed.

VReferring toFig- 3v of the drawing, there is illustrated in more detailone of the. slider membersY I8. Each -slider member comprises a flatbottom ZILand-twoflanged sides 22 and 24 fitting at leastthree ofthesides of the' square tube closelyv butslidably.- The front flangedside 24 is provided. with a lug l2S formed by punching andstriking outraportion.v of the side. The lug is perforated at 23 for supporting onedrape hook 30. The lug 26 is so proportioned and positioned as to slidefreely in the longitudinal vslot IS preferably,though not necessarily,withoutv `contacting the sides of the slot.

The .weight of -the drape is transmitted throughY the lug 26 tothe-anges Y22 and 24 and bottom 26 which butt against the walls of thetube I4 Without binding. The at sides of the tube cooperating-with-thebottom 20 and sides 22V rand 24 resist twistingof the slider Vunder theweight of the drape. rIThe sliders will reciprocate easily in the -tubeeven under heavy loads.

Each slider-member I8` is provided with a pair of inwardly projectingtab means 32 for tting between the helices of an extension helicalspring 34. In tting between the helices the' tab means 32 separate them,a distance equal to the thickness of the tabs. It has been found that itis necessary tohave the tabs 32 nt into the spring 34at two.diametrically opposite portions, in order to prevent kinking or warpingof the spring with a resultant undesirable binding action occurring.Thespring 34 in unstretched condition -isA of .a diameter slightly lessthan the distance between the slider walls 22 andv24. VThe a slidermembers may be slipped readily over the spring 34 between helices atregular intervals prior to placing the sliders and coil spring withinthe tube I4.

One end of each coil spring 34 is held in a iixed position within thetube I4 by a terminal member. The assembly of the sliders, coil springsand terminal members is shown in detail in Figure 2 of the drawing. Atthe' right-hand end of the fixture is a terminal member 35 whichconveniently is an inverted slider member without a lug, though theterminal member may take any other desirable configuration. The tabmeans 32 on the terminal member 36 passes between diametrically oppositehelices of the spring with at least two turns of the springbeingengaged. The terminal member 3B is xed by the pin 30 carrying the pulley40, the pin passing through the walls of the tube I4 thereby xing itwith respect to the tube. At the left end of the tube is anotherterminal member 42 which'may be similar in shape to a slider member, buthaving no tab thereon, the left endl terminal member being fixed by thepin 44 passing through it and the walls of the tube, The pin 44 carriesa second pulley 46. Y

The right-hand open end of the tube I4 is` provided with a closure 48which may be aiiixed to the tube by means of a machine screw or othersuitable retainer. The closure 48 has a depending lip 50 provided with awedge shaped slot 52 whose use will be described hereinafter. Theleft-hand end of the tube I4 may be closed by a U-shaped cap 54conveniently held in place by the pin 44 passing through the legs of theU. The pins 44 and 38 may be cotter pins.

Referring to Fig` 2 of the drawing in particular, there is illustratedthe flexible cord mechanism for operating both right and left-handgroups of the slider members. The innermost sliders attached to each ofthe coil springs 34 are provided with a clamping portion 5B suitable forengaging an operating cord 58. The end of the cord 58 is attached to theinnermost slider member I8 on the right-hand spring, then passes throughthe left-hand spring 34 over the pulley 46, then returns within the samecoil spring for engagement at the clamping portion 55 of the innermostslider member on the left-hand spring and then passes through theright-hand spring to the pulley 40. It terminates as a beaded chain B0.The chain BI] is adapted to be held, by engagement of the beads in thetapered slot 52 in the lip 50 in any position of adjustment.

It will be apparent that on disengaging the beaded chain 50, as shown inFig. l, from the slot 52 and pulling downwardly on the chain, the cord58 will pull the terminal slider I8 attached to the left-hand springthereby extending the .entire spring. Each of the sliders in theleft-hand group will move in accordance with the extension of thespring, in an amount proportional to their distance from the terminal42, and, accordingly, the lugs 2E will be separated an equal distancefrom each other and thereby the left-hand drape I3 will be spread intoan open position. The end of the cord 58 passing over the pulley 45 willalso be moved and will -pull on the end slider I8 attached to theright-handspring to extend the spring and similarly separate each slidermember of the right-hand group, thereby spreading the right-hand drapeI2 a similar amountA The chain 50 may be pulled any selected distanceand then fixed in such position by passingthe beaded chain into thewedge slot 5'2. If it is desired to 4 open the drapes, the chain 60 issimply pulled and swung clockwise out of the wedge slot 52 to bereleased and the contracting tendency of the springs will pull each setof sliders to the ends of the tube, thereby gathering the drapes.

The traversing xture shown in Fig. l has proved to be of an extremelysimple and reliable construction. In one test, the mechanism wasoperated 8,000 times, which is an amount equal to better than l0 yearsnormal service, with complete satisfaction.

Because of the flat sided cooperating construction of the tube I4 andslider members I8 land the resulting feature of easy longitudinal Asliding without twisting or binding even with heavy drapes, the drapesupporting lugs 26 ex- 'tend laterally thereby making a compact xture.

Accordingly, only a short stiff heading 'I0 on the drapes I2 and I3will.v be suiiicient to conceal completely the tube I4 when the drapesare drawn. Furthermore', the exposed portions of the fixture I0 consistofonly the tube I4 and chain 60, thereby it is not inartisticeven whenthe drapes are opened. The fixture is'ea'sily cleaned since itdoes notgather dust readily"` It will be appreciated that while the mechanismshown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for handling two drapes'or curtains orthe like simultaneously,- it may be desirable to employ a similarmechanism for opening and closing a single curtain, for'example a showercurtain. In that case, only a single unit corresponding for example, tothe right half Vof Fig. 1 alone, comprising a single spring 34 and thedesirable number of slider members I8 will be placed within a tube.Furthermore, for use in showers or the like, the longitudinal slot I6need not be placed in a vertical or side surface of the tube I4, but maybe located so that the slotl is at the bottom thereof.

Referringl to Fig. 4, there is illustratedl asupport for holdingthe-tube I4 of the xture in position on a wall 90, window? frame or thelike. The support comprises cooperating lower bracket IDU and upperbracket IDB. The lower bracket |00 is provided witha vertical arm IIlZlwhich may be fastened by means of screws |06 and' IIl'I to the wall 90.A horizontal flange I04 is formed at an angle of greater than to thevertical arm I02. An angle of to 105 has been found satisfactory. Thebracket IDU is initially-iastened by the screws |06 and IIl'I to aposition where the flange I04 is horizontal'.

The upper bracket IBB comprises a vertical portion IIB to be fastenedagainst the wall 9B, a right angled horizontal arm II2 iitted to extendover the top Side of tube I4, and a lip II4 to clamp over the edge tohold the tube I4 when screw I I6 is tightened.

A method of employing the support is to fasten the lower bracket |00 tothe wall 90 to a position where the flange |04 is horizontal, the tubeI4 being then rested on it, and then to fasten the upper bracket |48 inplace by screw IIB. The lowermost screw IBB will have but little play,while screw IlII will have considerable travel before it is snug. Bydriving `screws I 0l and IIJE the bracket IUD will be drawninto the wall90 and the horizontal 'flange I 04 Will cam up the tube I4 tightlyagainst bracket |08.

Fig. 5 of the drawing illustrates a modifiedform of 'unitary support |20functioning similarly to that of Figure 4. The SupportY |20 comprises aback portion I22I to t against awall or frame. A lower bracket portionis formed from-an up- Wardly bent portion |24 disposed at an angle of to20 to the back |22 and carrying a horizontal flange |26 forming an angleof from 100 to 110 thereto. Screws |23 are applied to the bent portion|24 both to fasten the support to the wall as well as to draw the bentportion towards the back portion. From the upper end of the back portion|22 is an upper bracket portion comprising a parallel downwardlyextending vertical portion |39 having a horizontal arm |32 and a lip |34for holding a tube in place when screw |36 is applied to the verticalportion |39.

It will be apparent that the angle between flange |04 and arm |62 orflange |24 and arm |26 in Fig. 5 may be varied within a considerablelimit-to as much as 135. Also, the bracket |08 in Fig. 4, or the upperhorizontal arm |32 in Fig. 5, may be shaped to conform to the shape ofthe tube |41 if it has other than a square' section.

The tube i4 may overhang the supports of Figs. 4 and 5. This enables thedrapes l2 and |3 to completely conceal a window or other opening.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus and differentembodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a xture for traversing drapes and the like, in combination, a tubeprovided with a longitudinal slot, a single extension helical springdisposed within the tube, means for fixing one end of the helical springadjacent one end of the tube, a plurality of slider members disposedabout the helical spring and tting the interior of the tube with arelatively easylongitudinal sliding fit, each slider member having abottom portion conforming to and resting on the tube and ange portionsconforming to and fitting the sides of the tube for carrying the load ofa drape, each slider member having a pair of inwardly extending tabmeans passing between and detachably affixed to the helices of thespring at two points on diametrically opposite portions thereof, the tabmeans providing for movement of the slider member in correspondence withthe expansion and contraction of the helical spring, a lug attached toeach slider member extending through said slot for supportingl aflexible drape member for longitudinal motion, and a flexible pullmember attached to a slider member nearest the free end of the helicalspring.

2. The iixture of claim 1 wherein the tube has a polygonal cross-sectionand the bottom and the ange portions of the slider members are ofsimilar polygonal crosssection.

3. A fixture comprising, in combination, a tube having two opposed datsides and provided with a longitudinal slot, two extension helicalsprings vmembers having wall portions fitting the major cross-section ofthe interior walls of the tube closely with a relatively easylongitudinal sliding t, the wall portions of the slider members ttingagainst and cooperating with the iiat sides of the tube to withstandtwisting, 'each slider member having a pair of inwardly extending tabmeans passing between and detachably aiiixed to the helices of thespring 'at two points on diametrically opposite portions thereof, thetab means connecting each slider member to the spring for movement incorrespondence with the expansion and contraction of the spring, a lugattached to each slider member extending through said longitudinal slot,a flexible member connected to thev terminal slider member adjacent thefree end of each spring,-a pulley disposed at one end of the tube, andthe flexible member passing from the point of connection to the terminalslider on the spring fixed' to the end of the tube opposite the pulley,over the pulley and returning, thence to the terminal slider on thespring adjacent the f pulley and thence to the opposite end of the tubeto a point outside the tube whereby a pull on the flexible member willoperate the springs simultaneously.

WALTER C. TROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS' Great Britain June 27, 1946

